Some Miami residents call foul over Beckham football venture

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/sports/2018/02/02/miami-residents-call-foul-beckham-football-venture/

Some Miami residents call foul over Beckham football venture

MIAMI, United States, Feb 2 – David Beckham has finally achieved his goal of bringing Major League Soccer to Miami, but the prospect of a stadium without parking that drives up housing costs in a low-income neighborhood is no hit with residents.

The former England captain and glitzy star of storied Champions League teams was formally awarded an MLS franchise on Monday, but key details remain up in the air, such as its name and logo and when it will debut.

For the 25,000-stadium, the investor group led by Beckham has acquired land in an area called Overtown, a working class district between downtown and Little Havana.

They still need to buy one more piece of land, but for now the deal is held up in court by a lawsuit. The investors are confident they will prevail.

“Our 24th team now is in Miami. The stadium is in the Overtown site,” MLS commissioner Don Garber said.

One problem is that Miami is already choked with traffic and the stadium will not have its own parking lots.

And people in the neighborhood fear housing costs that are already rising will force them to move away as they keep going up.

“We are largely overwhelmed by the larger forces in the community that are out there. Our voices are not being heard sufficiently,” said Ernest Martin, a member of the Miami River Commission, an association of people living near the waterway.

Martin was especially critical of the lack of parking.

But Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said Monday that although the stadium itself will have no on-site parking, there are plenty of big lots two to three blocks from the planned arena.

He also pointed to public transport, but people in Miami love their cars.

The problem of rising housing costs comes with gentrification. Overtown is a black-majority neighborhood of some 13,000 people, and 24 percent of the residents earn less than $10,000 a year, well below the poverty level.

Landscaper Williams Charlie is meanwhile skeptical that the new stadium can bring jobs, but says “we need a soccer team” nonetheless.

“Beckham knows what he’s doing. I’ll go right to the game — if they don’t move us out.”

One sign of how deeply opposed some are is the emergence of a Facebook group against the stadium which publishes scary videos of football-related violence as a way of warning against the dangers of hooligans.

“It’s not a done deal!” is the slogan of the Overtown Spring Garden Community Collective.

This is true: the proposed sale of the last piece of land needed is being held up by a millionaire named Bruce Matheson, who argues that the county had no right to cede the first lot without opening it up to bidding.

He lost his first battle in court but has lodged an appeal.

Mayor Gimenez meanwhile remains bullish. “We are very confident that we are going to win the lawsuit,” he told reporters.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://wlrn.org/post/days-after-david-beckham-s-miami-victory-party-warning-it-not-done-deal

Days After David Beckham’s Miami Victory Party, A Warning: ‘It Is Not A Done Deal.’

A group trying to block David Beckham and partners from building a 25,000-seat soccer stadium in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood packed a community center on Thursday night and urged residents to resist the plan.

“It is not a done deal,” said Bishop James Adams, the organizer and a pastor at the St. John Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, who coaxed the audience of about 40 people to repeat the slogan. “Say it again.”

His message captured some of the on-the-ground reality facing Beckham after his triumphant return to Miami on Monday to celebrate Major League Soccer approving an expansion franchise nearly five years after Beckham began his stadium quest. But while Beckham and partners — including Miami business titans Jorge and José Mas — won league approval for a team, the group still has not finalized the purchase of three acres needed for a planned nine-acre Overtown stadium, or won city approval for street closures and zoning changes around the land where Northwest Sixth Street meets Sixth Avenue.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/miami-residents-call-foul-over-beckham-venture-20180202

Miami residents call foul over Beckham venture

Miami - David Beckham has finally achieved his goal of bringing Major League Soccer to Miami, but the prospect of a stadium without parking that drives up housing costs in a low-income neighbourhood is no hit with residents.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://citizen.co.za/news/news-world/1799605/fbl-usa-mls-beckham-miami/

Some Miami residents call foul over Beckham football venture

David Beckham has finally achieved his goal of bringing Major League Soccer to Miami, but the prospect of a stadium without parking that drives up housing costs in a low-income neighborhood is no hit with residents.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.pulse.com.gh/sports/football/-id7926081.html

Football

Some Miami residents call foul over Beckham football venture

David Beckham has finally achieved his goal of bringing Major League Soccer to Miami, but the prospect of a stadium without parking that drives up housing costs in a low-income neighborhood is no hit with residents.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/us-sport/david-beckham-mls-miami-dream-financial-nightmare-analysis-a8190991.html

Why David Beckham is investing in a dying duck in Miami - his MLS dream could yet turn out to be a nightmare

Beckham has bought into a competition that, unlike many of Europe’s leading leagues, is heavily in the red rather than the black

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/david-beckhams-miami-franchise-could-lure-cristiano-ronaldo-or-lionel-messi-stateside-says-mls-a3756306.html

David Beckham's Miami franchise could lure Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi stateside, says MLS veteran

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.espn.com/soccer/minnesota-united-fc/story/3368872/david-beckhams-miami-team-could-attract-messi-and-ronaldo-adrian-heath

David Beckham's Miami team could attract Messi, Ronaldo - Adrian Heath

(Follow link for full article.)

http://vancouversun.com/sports/basketball/mayenknecht-beckham-big-winner-in-mls-franchise-play

Bulls & Bears: Veteran sports icons Beckham, Federer court success

Bulls of the Week

A slow-moving, five-year roller-coaster of on-again, off-again ups and downs finally arrived at the announcement that the David Beckham Major League Soccer ownership group was ready to officially unveil plans for its long-awaited expansion franchise in Miami.

It’s a bullish play for Beckham, who brought star power to MLS in 2007 and was gifted franchise rights for US $25 million as part of his five-year deal with the L.A. Galaxy. With MLS entry fees now pegged at US$150 million, there’s a huge upside for Beckham and his partners, now planning to move ahead with a new stadium on land they’ve bought despite opposition from local community groups.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://ottawacitizen.com/sports/basketball/mayenknecht-beckham-big-winner-in-mls-franchise-play/wcm/0cc660cc-cb98-4146-b844-b91576d224d2

Bulls & Bears: Veteran sports icons Beckham, Federer court success

Bulls of the Week

A slow-moving, five-year roller-coaster of on-again, off-again ups and downs finally arrived at the announcement that the David Beckham Major League Soccer ownership group was ready to officially unveil plans for its long-awaited expansion franchise in Miami.

It’s a bullish play for Beckham, who brought star power to MLS in 2007 and was gifted franchise rights for US $25 million as part of his five-year deal with the L.A. Galaxy. With MLS entry fees now pegged at US$150 million, there’s a huge upside for Beckham and his partners, now planning to move ahead with a new stadium on land they’ve bought despite opposition from local community groups.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/01/31/how-david-beckham-finally-brought-mls-miami

How David Beckham finally brought MLS to Miami

(Follow link for full article.)

http://mancunion.com/2018/02/01/beckham-strikes-story-behind-david-beckhams-newest-soccer-venture/

Beckham strikes back: The story behind David Beckham’s newest soccer venture

The Manchester United legend is making waves in Miami

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/mls/article197692004.html

Miami gets yet another pro soccer team — but this one does not involve David Beckham

In the latest Miami soccer news that does not involve David Beckham, Miami FC announced on Wednesday the creation of Miami FC 2, a temporary team that will play in the National Premier Soccer League this spring while awaiting the August start of the North American Soccer League season.

The NASL pushed back its season start from April to August in order to align play with the world calendar and also to give the league time to add clubs after shrinking to five teams. Rather than have the team dormant for eight months, Miami FC CEO Sean Flynn created Miami FC 2 and entered the NPSL.

“Our players and coaches are excited to get back on the field, and the NPSL schedule allows us to face some quality competition in the Sunshine Conference throughout the next few months,” Flynn said. “This is the next step in our continued investment in soccer in Miami. We have a wonderful organization, incredibly talented players, a new head coach in Paul Dalglish and a first-class stadium. Our loyal and growing fanbase can expect further exciting announcements soon.”

(Follow link for full article.)

http://fox40.com/2018/02/01/nothing-is-off-the-table-republic-fc-confident-they-will-find-an-investor/

‘Nothing is Off the Table:’ Republic FC Confident They Will Find an Investor

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2018/02/02/exclusivesa-mayor-meets-in-new-york-with-mls.html

Exclusive: SA mayor meets in New York with MLS commissioner about expansion

Nirenberg said the exchange was an "eye-opener" for the league as it considers potential homes for new teams.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2018/02/01/q-a-armada-fc-owner-talks-the-future-of-soccer-in.html

Q&A: Armada FC owner talks the future of soccer in Jacksonville

The Armada FC will be playing in the National Premier Soccer League, the fourth level of American soccer, from April through July of 2018

(Follow link for full article.)

http://tucson.com/sports/local/mls-spring-training-begins-saturday-with-mobile-mini-sun-cup/article_cf7387c9-8471-527a-bde9-a9aa391241bf.html

major League Soccer in tucson

MLS spring training begins Saturday with Mobile Mini Sun Cup doubleheader in Tucson

(Follow link for full article.)

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1120803203789&ca=62907415-a1aa-4df2-bd2d-ea770be0b096

Have lunch with Tampa Bay Rowdies players and kick-off the 2018 season at Al Lang Stadium!

When

Tuesday, March 20th
11:30 AM Registration & Networking
12:00 PM Lunch
       
Where

Al Lang Stadium
230 1st St SE 
St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Individual Tickets $50

Table of 8 with Name Recognition $500

REGISTER
   
(Follow link for full article.)
   
http://www.uslsoccer.com/news_article/show/881775?referrer_id=2349190

USL Best of 2017 – Marcel Schäfer

Long-range strikes highlighted All-League season for Rowdies

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.brotherlygame.com/2018/2/1/16958014/goalkeeper-brandon-miller-penn-fc-city-islanders-charlotte-independence

Goalkeeper Brandon Miller signs with Charlotte Independence

Miller was a bright spot in Harrisburg in 2017

Charlotte had been looking for a new top goalkeeper after losing last year’s starter Cody Mizell to the Tampa Bay Rowdies (who had just lost Matt Pickens to Nashville SC). By picking up an experienced player like Brandon Miller, they’ll have one less hole to worry about as they begin their preseason.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.brotherlygame.com/2018/2/1/16944776/philadelphia-union-academy-preseason-aaronson-pellegrino-romero

Union Academy trio with first team in Clearwater

South Jersey trio of Brenden Aaronson, Tomas Romero and Michael Pellegrino are in Clearwater with the Philadelphia Union

Aaronson, of Medford, and Pellegrino, of Wenonah, both made their first professional starts in the midfield for Bethlehem Steel FC in Florida back in October in a game against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/02/01/kriseman-gears-up-for-a-cross-bay-ferry-comeback.html

Kriseman gears up for a Cross Bay Ferry comeback

The mayor is working to arrange funding for the ferry's comeback tour.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/Today-s-Google-Doodle-honors-man-whose-name-adorns-St-Petersburg-museum_165065373

Today’s ‘Google Doodle’ honors man whose name adorns St. Petersburg museum

The daily "Google Doodle" honors Dr. Carter G. Woodson, honored as the father of Black History Month which begins today.

ST. PETERSBURG —Tampa Bay residents saw a familiar face when they visited Google on Thursday.

The ever-changing "Google Doodle" depicts Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who is honored as "the father of Black History Month" and is the namesake of an African-American cultural museum in St Petersburg.

Terri Lipsey Scott, executive director of the Carter G. Woodson African American Museum in the city’s Midtown community, was elated.

"Oh, my God," she recalled saying. "The respect and recognition of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month, is so long overdue."

Scott said she was doing research for the speech she planned to give at Thursday’s flag raising ceremony in front of St. Petersburg’s City Hall when she made the online discovery. St. Petersburg is the only city that raises a flag in recognition of both the historian and Black History Month, she said. She knows this, Scott said, because the St. Petersburg museum has the only flag honoring Woodson.

"I had this flag created for the Woodson Museum three years ago and I had the idea that I should contact the mayor and ask that he raise the flag over City Hall, and he graciously agreed," she said.

This is the third year that Mayor Rick Kriseman has held the flag raising ceremony.

Woodson was an African-American scholar born to former slaves in 1875. In 1926, he established an annual February observance called "Negro History Week," which became "Black History Month" in 1976.

Thursday marks the first day of Black History Month. Woodson chose February because President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is on Feb. 12 and the accepted birthday of Frederick Douglass — the former slave, author, orator and abolitionist leader — is Feb. 14. Woodson’s most famous work is The Mis-Education of the Negro, originally published in 1933, in which he argued that black students were being culturally indoctrinated instead of taught. He published more than 30 books and founded a number of journals honoring and documenting the history of African-Americans.

The 12-year-old museum, at 2240 Ninth Ave. S, is the only one in the country named for Woodson, Scott said.

"They are renovating his home in Washington, D.C., and there are schools named in his honor,’ she said.

Over the years, the museum has celebrated important moments in African-American history — most notably, the historic election of President Barack Obama, as well as his inauguration.

The museum has also honored local residents. Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin, School Board chairwoman Rene Flowers and U.S. Ambassador to Gambia C. Patricia "Pat" Alsup have been among those recognized as the city’s "First Ladies in African-American History."

"People should know of Woodson’s contribution to Black History Month and the preservation of black history," Scott said. "We are at a place and time in history that we can no longer suppress the contributions that African-Americans have made to history."

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/baybuzz/2018/02/01/ed-turanchik-confirms-hes-running-for-tampa-mayor/

Ed Turanchik confirms he’s running for Tampa mayor

Ed Turanchik is in the race for Tampa mayor.

An unsuccessful run for mayor in 2011 hasn't dimmed Turanchik's appetite to lead the state's third-largest city.

For months, Turanchik's name has swirled among likely candidates to replace term-limited Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

The former Hillsborough County Commissioner (1990-1998) and 2011 mayoral candidate will file at 9:45 a.m. tomorrow at the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office in downtown Tampa.

A press advisory released by Turanchik said he was filing for "municipal office," but Turanchik confirmed to the Tampa Bay Times that he's running for mayor.

In recent years, Turanchik, 62, has been active in transportation issues, especially the Crossbay Ferry, which he championed along with St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman.  The ferry ran from November 2016 through April 2017. It's expected to return next fall.

Former Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor, Tampa council members Mike Suarez and Harry Cohen, philanthropist David Straz are all said to be weighing runs of their own.

So far, businessman Christopher "Topher"  Morrison and Michael Anthony Hazard have already filed for the March  2019 election.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.fccincinnati.com/news_article/show/882720?referrer_id=2584136

FCC Adds Third Game at IMG, Faces Chicago Fire Reserves

The Orange and Blue traveled to Bradenton, Fla. today to begin training and will play three exhibition matches as part of their two-week stay. FCC is scheduled to play New England Revolution (Feb. 6) and Tampa Bay Rowdies (Feb. 10) in addition to the Chicago Fire’s reserves.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.journal-news.com/sports/soccer-cincy-heading-florida-for-preseason-camp/q3ch8cY0wEXrUrX4x4YjOI/

Soccer: FC Cincy heading to Florida for preseason camp

FCC opens against the Revolution, then plays four USL opponents before the regular season begins, including the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Feb. 10 at IMG Academy in Bradenton. Koch said the team will pick up a third game in Florida that is not yet on the schedule.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/679199/Joe-Cole-West-Ham-Chelsea-discriminated-school-teachers-England-Tampa-Bay-Rowdies-video

Joe Cole reveals he became 'MARKED MAN' by 'jealous teachers' after West Ham debut

FORMER Chelsea and England star Joe Cole has revealed how he became a “marked man” among full-grown adults at his school.

And he is currently part of the set-up at United States League team Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Joe Cole's sensational bicycle-kick goal for the Rowdies

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2018/02/02/kriseman-gives-an-emphatic-response-to-usf-on-st.html

Kriseman gives an emphatic response to USF on St. Pete campus consolidation

Lawmakers are trying to remove autonomy for the the St. Pete campus it gained in 2006.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7ujb18/a_marked_man_joe_cole_on_the_pitfalls_of_being/

A MARKED MAN | Joe Cole on the pitfalls of being thrust into the spotlight as a young footballer (coachesvoice.com)

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.coachesvoice.com/a-marked-man/

Perspective

A marked man

Joe Cole

Player, West Ham, 1998-2003

“I remember going into school on Monday morning and your world changes. All of a sudden, you’re a marked man.”

Former West Ham and Chelsea player Joe Cole, still playing in the United States at the age of 36, remembers what it was like to grow up in the spotlight. Speaking exclusively with The Coaches’ Voice, he advises young footballers on how they can handle their own journeys.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.reddit.com/r/TampaBayRowdies/comments/7uvx7r/united_premier_soccer_league_announces_florida/

United Premier Soccer League Announces Florida Conference Expansion with St. Petersburg Aztecs (upslsoccer.com)

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.upslsoccer.com/news/united-premier-soccer-league-announces-florida-co3

United Premier Soccer League Announces Florida Conference Expansion with St. Petersburg FC Aztecs

Founded in 1987, St. Petersburg (Fla.)-Based Pro Development Team Joins UPSL 

February 2, 2018 – Los Angeles – The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is excited to announce St. Petersburg Football Club Aztecs as a new member starting with the 2018 Spring Season.

Based in ‘The Sunshine City’, St. Petersburg FC begins UPSL play in the Central Florida Conference, and will host its home games at Shorecrest Preparatory School (5101 1st St. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33703) in compliance with UPSL Minimum Standards.

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.nation.co.ke/sports/football/Miami-residents-call-foul-over-Beckham-football-venture/1102-4288500-4f8p7xz/index.html

Miami residents call foul over Beckham MLS venture

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.nation.co.ke/sports/football/Miami-residents-call-foul-over-Beckham-football-venture/1102-4288500-4f8p7xz/index.html

Miami residents call foul over Beckham MLS venture

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.mid-day.com/articles/miami-residents-upset-with-david-beckham/19011193

Miami residents upset with David Beckham

David Beckham has finally achieved his goal of bringing Major League Soccer (MLS) to Miami, but the prospect of a stadium without parking that drives up housing costs in a low-income neighbourhood is no hit with residents

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.news18.com/news/sports/some-miami-residents-call-foul-over-beckham-football-venture-1649041.html

Some Miami Residents Call Foul Over Beckham Football Venture

David Beckham has finally achieved his goal of bringing Major League Soccer to Miami, but the prospect of a stadium without parking that drives up housing costs in a low-income neighborhood is no hit with residents.

(Follow link for full article.)

http://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/35743/

Miami residents unimpressed with Beckham’s stadium

(Follow link for full article.)

https://www.mid-day.com/articles/miami-residents-upset-with-david-beckham/19011193

Miami residents upset with David Beckham

David Beckham has finally achieved his goal of bringing Major League Soccer (MLS) to Miami, but the prospect of a stadium without parking that drives up housing costs in a low-income neighbourhood is no hit with residents